Method of waterproofing textile materials



Patented. Nov; 19 31- CHRISTIAN MI. E. SGHROE DER, OF RU'IfiERFQRD, NEW JERSEY METHOD OF WATERPROOFING TEXTILE MATERIALS No I Drawing.

. resins oroil-and varnish compositions, but

my invention is of a different character from 511 2% processes and is not to be confused there'- My process obviates certain objectionable features of prior processes, particularly where the treated materials are designed for wearing apparel, shower curtains, window drapes, furniture coverings or other-domestic uses. A disadvantage of prior processes of waterproofing is the complete stoppage of -b free circulation of air as in the case of varnish coated ofngubberized materials and my invention is not subject to this objection and is therefore capable of producingmaterials which will be free from objectionable odors and unhygienic conditions.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ metallic soaps which are incorporated in the textile materials to produce a waterproof and chemical resistant effect. In the usual practice of the prior art certain salts of alumina, such as aluminum sulphate or aluminum acetate, have been used in combination with soaps of the general character of compounds of fatty acids, such as com- I pounds of oleic, 'stearic and palmitic acids. 5 These fatty acids are used in combination with the alkali bases such as sodium or potassium and are preferably used in the'form of an emulsion. The aluminum sulphate or other similar salt is reacted upon by the soap or saponified fatty acid compound, but it is a well known fact that some of the salts remain in the textile material treated with such waterproofing compounds and these salts have a tendency to reduce the water resistance and are easily broken down, especially in Application filed May 23,

'1929. Serial No. 365,583.

- down in laundering is obviated and a superior product is thus obtained. I have found that the use of a colloidal suspension of a metallic hydrate, preferably aluminum hydrate, will react with fatty acids such as oleic, stearic and palmitic acid, when suspended in an emulsion of water to produce a waterproofing material that will not break down or be washed out of the textile material by any ordinary washing or laundering -processes to which the material is submitted. The reactive property of such emulsion may be further enhanced by the addition of an unstable base such as ammonia. After the colloidal hydrate and the fatty acid emulsion have reacted, the ammonia or other unstable ase may be easily and completely driven off by exposure of the treated material to comparatively low temperature thus leaving a 75 completely penetrated and thoroughly impregnated effect on the material so treated. The material will retain its waterproofing qualities and will remain flexible indefinitely as it does not contain any salts of the solid bases which would votherwise have the property of absorbing water.

A further advantage of the use of my process resides in the faculty of the waterproofing material, chiefly oleate of aluminum, of acting as a binder for carrying other waterproofing compounds completely into the fibers of textile materials or fabrics. Thus, aluminum palmit'ate or aluminum stearate may be incorporated with the waterproofing material of my process to afford a further protection against absorption of water and also to aid infilling the spaces in woven fabrics which would otherwise allow the passage of water under" the slightest pressure.

. In practicing the process I first prepare a colloidal aluminum hydrate bath. The aluminum hydrate may be prepared in any suitable. way as by taking a solution of aluminum acetate and adding a base, such as zinc oxide, thereto. The base is added in an amount less than is necessary to com pletely neutralize the acid radical of the salt. I thus obtain what may be referred to as peptiz'ed hydrated aluminum. Other materials may be used in the preparation of the colloidal aluminum bath and I may employ sodium carbonate for this purpose. I may also employ a solution of peptized or colloidal aluminum suspension which is now on the market and which has been used by me with very satisfactory and economical results.

In carrying out the process the textile material is treated in a manner similar to mordanting. The material to be treated is first passed through a bath of the colloidal aluminum hydrate suspension and may be heated to a temperature below the temperature at which the aluminum hydrate would be precipitated to facilitate impregnation of the goods. After the textile material has been passed through'the bath. excess material is squeezed out through rolls as is customary in operations of this character in a textile finishing plant. The material is then passed through a bath which may consist of oleic acid or stearic acid alone. or a mixture of the two or either or both in combination with aluminum palmitate and/or aluminum stearate partially saponified by the use of strong ammonia water. This forms an emulsion or colloidal suspension of the excessfatty acid and the compound produced by the reaction of the aluminum hydrate and the fatty acid is thoroughly dispersed through the whole structure of the textile material. The process is completed by washing away excess of the substances used and drying in the ordinary manner pursued in textile processing.

I In a. typical embodiment of the invention. cotton goods known as ten ounce army duck or lighter goods known as twill or gabardine, after being desized and scoured as for bleaching. are first run through the bath of a colloidal aluminum hydrate. The goods to be treated are taken wet and run in a dye jig through a bath consisting of a solution of aluminum acetate at a strength of 15 Twaddell to which a suitable amount of zinc oxide has been added. In preparing the solution I employ about three gallons of the aluminum acetate solution to twelve gallons of water and onchalf pound of zinc oxide. This bath. is heated to a temperature below that .cipitated at which aluminum hydrate would be preto any great extent (from 120 -125 F.) and the goods are run-back and forth from rolls on each side of the bath until saturation is complete. The textile material saturated with the colloidal aluminum hydrate suspension is then rolled on a shell and revolved over the bath to allow excess liquid to drain 0E. It .is then given a light place of zincoxide in squeeze through a mangle. The roll is then taken to a tenter frame and moderately heated to drive out most of the moisture without, however, converting the retained alumina compound into its insoluble oxide (A1 0 This heat also volatilizes a good part of the acetic acid. r

The material is then ready for treatment with the fatty acid emulsion. The fatty acid bath is prepared in the following proportions: 12 ounces of oleic acid, 5 ounces of stearic acid, 3 gallons of boiling water. hen the fatty acids are fused together, twelve ounces of strong ammonia at 26 B. may be added while stirring. If either a compound of palmitic acid or a compound of stearic acid is-to be added to the waterproofing material, it is added to the fatty acid bath after the addition of the ammonia by gradually mixing it in while stirring.

To the quantities stated above, six ouncesof aluminum palmitate and/or four ounces of aluminum stearate may be added. I may also add paraffin or ceresin wax in the amount of two or three ounces for the purpose of obtaining a smoother and translucent effect in the finish of the goods. V

The material treated with the colloidal aluminum hydrate is then run into the fatty acid emulsion bath in a machine such as a mangle or quetch. The emulsion is kept 1n a steam jacketed pan so as to retain the temperature of the bath at from l170 F. As stated above, the material after being treated with the fatty acid emulsion is washed to remove excess of the waterproofing materials and dried in the ordinary manner pursued in textile processing.

The example set forth above has been used with very good results in waterproofing textile fabrics. It is herein set forth in detail as an illustration of the process and is in no way meant to be restrictive as substantially the same results may be obtained by variations in the procedure set forth above. Thus in some cases the material may be impregnated first with the fatty acid emulsion and then treated with the colloidal aluminum hydrate'suspension and other variations of similar chars "ter may be resorted to in practicing the process.

' The heating of the colloidal aluminum hydrate bath should be carefully controlled to prevent precipitation. Heating causes better penetration of the material, and 1f kept below the point of precipitation, the aluminum hydrate holds its colloidal structure just as well as if heating were not employed. Possibility of precipitation can be avoided by agitating the bath to prevent localized heating.

I claim:

1. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through. a bath of a colloidal suspension of a metallic hydrate and then passing the material through a bath of fatty acid suspension.

2. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passingthe material through a bath of a colloidal suspen sion of a metallic h drate and then passing the material through a'bath of a fatty acid suspension containing an unstable base.

3. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through a bath of a colloidal suspension of a metallic hydrate and then passing the material through a bath of a fatty acid I rial-through a bath suspension containin a salt of a fatty acid.

4. The process 0 waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through a bath of a colloidal suspension of a metallic hydrate and then passing the material through a bath of a fatty acid suspension containin a salt of a fatty aci ,5. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing-the material through a colloidal suspension of aluminum hydrate and then passing the material through a bath of a fatty acid suspension.

6. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through a colloidal suspension of aluminum hydrate and then passing the material through a bath of a fatty acid suspension containing an unstable base.

7. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through a colloidal suspension of aluminum hydrate and then passing the material through a bath of a fatty acid suspension containing a salt of a fatty acid.

'8. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through a colloidal suspension of aluminum hydrate and then passing the material through a bathof a' fatty acid suspension containing an unstablebase and a salt of a fatty acid.

9. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through a bath of a colloidal suspension of a. metallic hydrate and the passing the mateof a fatty acid suspension and ammonia.

10. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through a bath ofa colloidal suspension of a metallic hydrate and then passing the material through a bath of a fatty acid suspension and aluminum palmitate. r

11. The process material which comprises "passing the material through a bath an unstable base and of waterproofing textile of a colloidal suspension .of a metallic hydrate and then passing the .fatty acid emulsion at a temperature of approximately 170 F.

13. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through a colloidal suspension of aluminum hydrate at a temperature below 125 F., draining excess liquor fromthe material, heating the material to drive out moisture and then passing the material through a fatty acid emulsion containing ammonia at a temperatureof approximately 170 F.

14. The process of waterproofing textile material which comprises passing the material through a colloidal suspension of aluminum hydrate at a temperature below 125 F., draining excess liquor from the material, heating the material to drive out moisture and then passing the material through a fatty acid emulsion containing ammonia and aluminumpalmitate at a temperature of 170 F.

In testimony whereof'I aflix my signature.

CHRISTIAN M. E. SCHROEDER.

material through a bath of a fatty acid sus- 

